Israeli opposition politicians and commentators have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to overturn the results of the country's parliamentary elections by using domestic security investigations to challenge the legitimacy of votes cast by Palestinian citizens of Israel. According to Middle East Eye, the accusations follow an electoral defeat for Netanyahu's political bloc amid historically high participation among Palestinian voters, whose representatives secured an unprecedented 19 seats in the Knesset. More than a week after the election results placed Netanyahu's bloc behind the opposition, Israel's domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet, reportedly launched investigations into allegations of electoral fraud, bribery and foreign interference involving Palestinian voters.
The investigations, reportedly led by Shin Bet director David Zini, have prompted criticism from opposition figures, who argue that no supporting evidence has been publicly presented. The controversy has intensified as Netanyahu and his political allies challenge the legitimacy of the Palestinian-led Ra'am party and the Joint List, which together won 19 parliamentary seats. Critics allege that the campaign is intended to prevent the opposition from forming a government and enable Netanyahu to retain power despite the election outcome.
Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, warned on Wednesday that the actions of security agencies and the outgoing government posed a threat to Israel's democratic institutions. The Shin Bet is trying to question senior elected officials without presenting evidence. The outgoing government refuses to recognise the election results,” Golan said.
He subsequently accused Netanyahu of attempting to “carry out a coup and seize power by force”. Former Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid expressed similar concerns on Tuesday, alleging that Netanyahu was attempting “to crush democracy and steal the elections with the help of sleeper agents of the regime in the security establishment”. His remarks appeared to refer to Zini, who was appointed Shin Bet director by Netanyahu.
Gadi Eisenkot, another prominent opposition leader, also criticised the prime minister's conduct, accusing him of orchestrating “an organised attempt” to “sabotage Israeli democracy”. Eisenkot pointed to what he described as incitement against elected officials, the encouragement of street violence and efforts to undermine law enforcement institutions. Israeli journalists and political commentators have likewise raised concerns about the government's response to the election results, with some describing the reported actions as an attempted coup.
Israeli journalists and commentators have also accused Netanyahu of mounting an assault on democracy, describing his actions as an attempted coup. Netanyahu was attempting a “regime coup”, Harel said, using tactics familiar from “the playbooks of dark regimes”. He cited the use of the secret service, incitement against minorities, threats of violence and refusal to recognise election results.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
